Running water noise in pipes

Asked Oct 7, 2008, 05:46 AM
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7 Answers

I have lived in my house for 30 years. About 2 months ago I started noticing a running water sound in house. I checked all outlets and everything off and no leaks. I checked my water meter and it is the kind with the small black triangle that is very sensitive. It was no moving. My water bill has not changed, and no water in house or outside around house or any other signs of leaking. I called my water dept and they have not changed pressure and my water meter is good. The sound of running water only goes away when I turn all water off in house at main cutoff. My house is one story, on a slab, hot water heater is old (22 yrs) in attached garage. I have also turned off each sink and toilet one at a time to see if there was a leak in that area. NO change in sound. The sound was the loudest in my shower stall. I tore out wall behind shower to see all plumbing, because it sounded like it was running in wall. Everything dry. I am stumped--any thought? Thank you.

Since vibration and noise go together what pipe or pipes are vibrating the strongest?
I have to ask; Are you sure the little triangle in the meter moves when you make a draw? Describe the noise. Water running under pressure? Water draining out somewhere? Let me know about the vibration. Good luck, Tom

The sound is strongest in the shower stall. The triangle on water meter moves as soon as a very small amount of water is turned on. I checked it by turning on faucet outside while I was watching it. The noise sounds like water is turned on in another room of house. It sounds a little like water under pressure. Thank you.

Kirby, let me congratulate you on your 22 year old heater, the next one will not last as long I am afraid. Your issue is interesting and I wonder if the noise is 24/7 or just every so often. If it is every so often try closing all stop ms under your toilets to see if you have a leaky ballcock. Shot in the dark but a start.

The noise is constant and I already tried the stops on toliets and sinks and nothing changes the noise. I am wondering if the guts inside a shower faucet can go bad and cause this noise. It all started with a leak in the shower which is now fixed.

I know you sahut off the stops to thetoilets but did you ever pull the lid on the tanks and check inside while the noise was going? Just shooting in the dark, here. Something's got to be running somewhere to make the noise. Weird! You have the solund of water under pressure yet the meter pointer's not moving. Very strange! Tom

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